1984 GSL-SE. changing color of the car. Bumpers are badly faded and paint missing but no damage. Do the plastic front bumper covers, and front fascia, and, if so, what grit?
thanks.

 

It depends ion the condition of the paint,
if its flaking off, take all the colour/clear thats flaking off with some p120 dry, then prep it for primer with no coarser than p240 dry if using a 2k system, p320 for acrylic (I’d recommend a 2k system)

if the paint is simply faded and other than that in ok condition (not peeling or flaking off) and your going to primer the panel then some p320 will give it enough for the primer to bite grip to.

a great site for heaps of good advice on painting at home is autobody101 forum,

krem

 

I really appreciate your reply. The car is stored in a friend’s pole barn an hour away which means a 2 hour round trip, it’s in the 90s outside the barn and hotter in (summer lasts about 7-8 months in Missouri) and it’s just me and my son. We bring as much “homework” as we can with us. The bumper covers are faded and the color change will be dramatic. Your reply allows me to start on them tomorrow.

 

A flex additive for the primer and paint will be needed. I’d also be sure to clean the surfaces thoroughly. In a pinch fast dry reducer will work.

 

Flex additives are a bit old school now, ive painted for a long time (not a professional but always asked a friend at the local supplies store who is a tradesman heaps of questions), and have never used them, a simple plastic primer now will do the same thing, urethane paints are flexible enough these days to not need the flex add, and adding flex add to the colour and clear will slightly change the colour,
If you sand thru the factory primer to the plastic then I’d really recommend a plastic primer on just that spot, a 1k in a spray can will do the job, a light coat is all you need and then normal primer over the top, the plastic primer is just like an etch primer, goes on light.
Krem

 

I disagree. Sure, paint remains flexible...long enough to get it out the door. Check it again a few months or a year later and it’s not so flexible. Shops still use it.

 

I am so sorry for not replying sooner as this information you all are posting is necessary for me to finish this job. As I noted, the car is stored in a friend's pole barn about an hour north of my house, meaning a 2 hour round trip drive. That being the case, I stay as long and late as possible. I have been so busy with that and driving kids back and forth (school started), I have been on no forums. I appreciate this help so much. There seem to be so few people that know much about these cars and I am on such a time crunch. I hope to get to the plastic tomorrow.